Patrick Jephson
{{Short description|British journalist}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Patrick Jephson
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| birth_place = Ireland
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| alma_mater = Cambridge University
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| occupation = Journalist
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| spouse = Mary Jo Jacobi
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Patrick Jephson is an Irish-born British-American journalist, television presenter, and author who was previously the private secretary and equerry to Diana, Princess of Wales.{{cite web|url=https://knightayton.co.uk/male-presenters/patrick-jephson |title=Patrick Jephson |publisher=Knight Ayton |date= |accessdate=2022-12-09}}{{cite web|url=https://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/tradition/a39475545/patrick-jephson-princess-diana-private-secretary-martin-bashir-interview/ |title=BBC Apologies to Princess Diana's Private Secretary Patrick Jephson |publisher=Townandcountrymag.com |date= 9 November 2022|accessdate=2022-12-09}}
Biography
Jephson was born and raised in Ireland. He was awarded a master's degree in political science from Cambridge University.
Jephson served in the British Royal Navy for a decade and was then selected for the Royal Household.{{cite web | url=https://viking.tv/my-viking/patrick-jephson | title=Patrick Jephson }}
Jephson was the private secretary to Princess Diana from 1988 to 1996.{{cite web|author=Roberta Fiorito |url=https://www.yahoo.com/video/princess-dianas-private-secretary-believes-000000065.html |title=Princess Diana's Private Secretary Believes She'd Still Be Alive Today if Not for the "Panorama" Interview |publisher=Yahoo.com |date=2022-08-31 |accessdate=2022-12-09}}
In 1995, then BBC television journalist, Martin Bashir, produced what later proved to be forged bank documents, that indicated Jephson was spying on the Princess of Wales, in order for Bashir to gain access to the Princess and secure an interview with her.{{Cite web |date=2022-03-17 |title=BBC pays "substantial" damages to Diana's private secretary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2022/mar/17/bbc-pays-substantial-damages-to-princess-dianas-private-secretary |access-date=2022-12-13 |website=the Guardian |language=en}} On 22 January 1996, shortly before the story of Tiggy Legge-Bourke's unfounded abortion allegation was published, Jephson resigned, as did his assistant Nicole Cockell the next day. Jephson later wrote that Diana had "exulted in accusing Legge-Bourke of having had an abortion".Jephson, Patrick, Shadows of a Princess (London, October 2000), extract published in The Sunday Times newspaper, 24 September 2000.
In 2022 the BBC apologised and paid sizable compensation to Jephson for the damages he incurred from the false allegations made against him by Bashir while he was working for the network.{{Cite web |last=Watts |first=Matt |date=2022-03-17 |title=BBC agrees settlement with Diana's private secretary over Bashir Panorama interview |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/bbc-settlement-princess-diana-private-secretary-patrick-jephson-martin-bashir-panorama-interview-b988784.html |access-date=2022-12-13 |website=Evening Standard |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2022-11-09 |title=Princess Diana's Private Secretary Patrick Jephson Consulted on The Crown |url=https://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/tradition/a39475545/patrick-jephson-princess-diana-private-secretary-martin-bashir-interview/ |access-date=2022-12-13 |website=Town & Country |language=en-us}} Jephson donated all the compensation to Ty Hafan children’s Hospice in Wales.
Jephson is the author of Shadows of a Princess: An Intimate Account By Her Private Secretary (Harper 2000).{{cite web | url=https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/2290107.Shadows_of_a_Princess | title=Shadows of a Princess: An Intimate Account by Her Priva… }}
Jephson subsequently emigrated to the United States, and became a naturalised U.S. citizen in 2015. He resides in Washington, D.C. He is married to Mary Jo Jacobi.{{cite web|url=https://knightayton.co.uk/male-presenters/patrick-jephson |title=Patrick Jephson |publisher=Knight Ayton |date= |accessdate=2022-12-09}}
In popular culture
Jepshson is played in the 2013 film Diana by Charles Edwards.{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/charles_edwards |title=Charles Edwards |publisher=Rotten Tomatoes |date=1969-10-01 |accessdate=2022-12-09}} In season 4 of The Crown, he is portrayed by Tom Turner{{cite web|url=https://www.thepworld.com/discover_article/patrick-jephson-is-consultant-to-netflix-the-crown |title=Patrick Jephson is consultant to Netflix The Crown |publisher=PWorld |date=2020-10-02 |accessdate=2022-12-09}} and in season 5 by Jamie Glover.{{cite web|last=Knight |first=Lewis |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/crown-season-5-6-cast-characters-netflix/ |title=The Crown season 5 cast {{pipe}} Full list of actors and characters |publisher=Radio Times |date=2022-11-29 |accessdate=2022-12-09}}
Jephson also served as a historical consultant to the aforementioned Netflix series The Crown.{{cite web | url=https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/princess-diana-private-secretary-consultant-000000830.html | title=Princess Diana's Private Secretary is a Consultant for 'The Crown,' Here's What He Told Emma Corrin About Diana }}
References
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Category:Alumni of the University of Cambridge
Category:Members of the British Royal Household
Category:Irish emigrants to the United Kingdom
Category:British emigrants to the United States
Category:Irish emigrants to the United States